Fireproof casing for elevator-shafts.



PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

J. J. PLUCKBR.

PIREPROOF CASING FOR ELEVATOR SHAFTS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 5, 1902.

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PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

J. J. PLUGKER.

PIREPROOF CASING FOR ELEVATOR SHAFTS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 5. 1902.

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UNITED ,STATEs Patented July 28, 1902;,

PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB J. PLUOKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY

PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREPROOF CASING FOR ELEVATOR-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,598 dated July 28, 1903.

Application filed March 5, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AOOB J. PLUoKER,a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Casings for Elevator-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a casing or housing for elevators to pass through from floor to floor, designed to accomplish the double purpose of inclosin g the elevator in a suitable grille through which light and air may be admitted under usual conditions and which may be closed quickly and for all floors of a building simultaneously in case of fire, so as to separate said casing or housing from the floors of the building and also to maintain the elevator-casing in a condition suitable for the operation of the elevator notwithstanding the existence of fire on any one or more floors, thus permitting the escape of persons who may be confined in the building during a fire. The existence of tall buildings using elevators involves a constant danger, as a fire occurring anywhere in the building will at once seek the elevator-openings as a flue and destroy not only the elevators, but also the staircase, which usually surrounds the elevatoropenings, and make escape from the upper floor of a tall building impossible, with resulting loss of life in case of fire. It is equally essential that at all times the elevator-open ings should be surrounded bya suitable grille to protect persons in the building from falling through them or from being injured by the passage of the elevators.

Constructions have heretofore been made for operating temporary closures in air and light shafts simultaneously for all stories of a building; also for operating windows or ventilators simultaneously for all stories of a building; also for dropping around an elevator on a single story a fireproof curtain, so as to protect the elevator on the story where the curtain is located against fire on that story; but I believe it to be broadly new with me to construct a casing which will be at once a grille open for the admission of light and air Serial No. 96,793. (No model.)

and protecting the elevator-openings under usual conditions and capable of being closed to form a fireproof screen entirely closed from top to bottom of the building and which may be operated simultaneously for all stories of the building from any floor, while retaining the access to the elevators through the doors of the elevator-casing at all times, thus making it possible to secure theutmost safety for the occupants of a building in which an elevator is used.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a building, partly broken away and having therein an elevator-shaft provided with my improved casing, the same being shown in the closed position. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section thereof, as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail, as on the line 3 8 of Fig. 2, showing the casing in the open position in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a. sectional detail, as on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing a strip of asbestos or similar fireproof material interposed between the angle-irons. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a modified form of slat.

Numeral l designates an elevator-shaft,and 2 my improved casing applied thereto. The casing is herein shown as applied to three sides of the shaft and connected to the rear wall of the building, thereby forming a complete inclosure. The invent-ion, however, may be applied to all four sides of the shaft when the shaft is not located adjacent a wall of the building. The casing extends from the floor to the ceiling of each story of the building and in its preferred form comprises vertically-arranged angle-irons 3, connected at their ends by horizontal members 4 and secured to the fioorand ceiling of each story, respectively, thereby forming an open framework about the shaft. In order to insure a fireproofjoint betweenthe, angle-irons 3, I interpose therebetween a strip of asbestos 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The angle-irons 3 are arranged in pairs, and each pair is connected by a series of overlapping pivoted slats 5,

which may be constructed of any suitable fireproof material-such, for example, as steel and asbestos. In Fig. 5 I have shown a slat constructed of asbestos and provided with a metallic covering. These slats are provided along their upper edges with ribs 6-and along their lower edges with grooves '7, that when they occupy the closed position the edges overlap each other and the ribs 6 register with the grooves 7, thereby forming an efiective fireproof joint. The slats 5 may be pivoted to the angle-irons in any suitable manner. In the present instance I provide each slat with a pair of studs 8, which are fitted to perforations 9 in the angle-irons. The slats of each series are provided with projecting lugs 10, which are pivoted to a vertically-arranged connecting-bar 11, by means of which the slats may be simultaneously raised or lowered, as desired.

Mounted in bearings 12 on the angle-irons 3 are shafts 13, which are provided at their meeting ends with coacting bevel gear-wheels 14. Suitably arranged on these shafts are arms 15, Which are connected by links 16 with the connecting-bars 11. One of the shafts 13 in each story of the building is provided with an arm 17, which projects outwardly, as shown. These arms are connected to a wire 18, which extends through the entire building and has attached to its lower end a counterweight 19. By raising or lowering this wire the entire casing may be closed or opened, as desired. The wire 18 extends through a casing 19 which is provided above each floor with a conveniently-located door, by means of which access may be readily had to the wire 18 for opening or closing the casing, as desired.

By providing the elevator-shaft of a building with a casing of the character just described the danger of the total destruction of the building by fire and the loss of life incident thereto is greatly decreased, as it is well known how an open elevator-shaft assists the fire in spreading throughout the entire building.

The elevator-car may also be provided with my improved casing, whereby the escape of occupants from the building in case of fire will be greatly facilitated, as they may be carried therethrough in comparative safety.

I claim 1. The combination with an elevator-shaft, of a permanent casing therefor constructed of fireproof material and adapted to be maintained open under any usual conditions for the admission of light and air, and to be ciosed in case of fire to form a fireproof casing, inclosing the elevator-shaft, and means connected to the operative parts of the casing for opening or closing all parts of the casing, on a single floor simultaneously.

2. The combination with an elevator-shaft of a permanent casing therefor, constructed of fireproof material and adapted to be maintained open under usual conditions for the admission of light and air, and to be closed in case of fire to form a fireproof casing inclosing the elevator-openings from the top to the bottom of the building, with means connected to the operative parts of the casing and adapted to open or close the casing on all stories of the building simultaneously from any floor.

3. The combination with an elevator-shaft of a permanent casing therefor, constructed of fireproof material and adapted to be maintained open under usual conditions for the admission of light and air and to be closed in case of fire to form a fireproof casing inclosing the elevator-openings from the top to the bottom of the building, consisting of a series of pivoted shutters mounted in a suitable frame, and connected with actuating meclr anism, with means extending from the top to the bottom of the building and connected to the shutters on all floors of the building, whereby the casing may be simultaneously opened or closed upon all floors of the building and from any one floor of the building.

at. The combination with an elevator-shaft of a permanent casing therefor, constructed of fireproof material and adapted to be maintained open under usual conditions for the admission of light and air and to be closed in case of fire to form a fireproof casing inclosing the elevator-openings from the top to the bottom of the building, consisting of a series of pivoted shutters mounted in a suitable frame and connected with actuating mechanism, with means extending from the top to the bottom of the building and connected to the shutters on all floors of the building, whereby the casing may be simultaneously opened or closed upon all floors of the building and from any one floor of the building, with fireproof doors adapted to be opened and closed by the elevator-conductor independently of the casing.

5. The combination with an elevator-shaft, of a fireproof casing therefor, comprising a framework including angle-irons arranged together and having an asbestos strip interposed between the same, a series of pivoted slats arranged in said framework, and means for opening and closing said slats.

6. The combination with a building provided with an elevator-shaft, of a fireproof casing for said shaft in each story of the building, said casing comprising in each story a framework, a series of pivoted slats arranged therein,shafts arranged on said framework, connections between said shafts and slats, operating-arms on said shafts a wire extending through the building and connected with said arms, and a counterweight attached to said wire, whereby the slats of the entire casing may be closed or opened by raising or lowering said wire.

7. The combination of a building provided with an elevator-shaft, a fireproof casing for said shaft in'each story of the building, said casing comprising in each story a framework, In testimony whereof I affix my signature and a series of pivoted slats arranged therein presence of two witnesses.

in, with a wire extending through said building, and connections between said wire and v slats, whereby the slats of the entire casing 1 Witnesses: may be closed or opened by raising or lower- R. H. GAMBLE,

ing said wire. SADIE NOLAN.

JACOB J. PLUOKER. 

